Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

10.06.21
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11:40 LRN Sportscast

LSU announces All-American cornerback Derek Stingley Junior had surgery on his injured foot and there’s no timetable on his return. During today’s SEC teleconference, Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins asked Coach Ed Orgeron if he thinks Stingley will return this season….
cut 30 (15) “….”
Stingley released a statement through LSU that says he wants to finish out the season with his teammates and will do everything he can to get healthy so that he can play again this year.

Meanwhile, the Tigers are getting ready for a tough SEC road game against Kentucky, who is ranked 16th and undeated on the season. Center Liam Shanahan says they can’t dwell on the defeat to Auburn…
cut 16 (15) “…upcoming week”
Kick-off is at 6:30.

The Saints are making a change at kicker as they wait for Will Lutz to recover from core muscle surgery. New Orleans has released Aldrick Rosas after missing his last three field goals and signed Cody Parkey. Parkey has kicked for five different teams and has made 85-percent of his field goals during his career.

Also ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Saints running back Tony Jones Junior will miss the next three to four weeks with an ankle injury and they’ve reportedly signed Devine Ozigbo off of Jacksonville’s practice squad.

ULM Coach Terry Bowden says quarterback Rhett Rodriguez will not play again on Saturday against Georgia State after suffering a collapsed lung on September 26th. Bowden says Chandler Rogers will start Q-B this Saturday after throwing for just 100 yards in a blowout loss to Coastal Carolina…
cut 20 (11) “…can do”
U-L Lafayette has received a two-million-dollar gift from Iberiabankthat will go towards the renovation of Cajun Field. The donation also gives Iberiabank the naming rights for the new stadium’s West Concourse and Administrative Offices.

10.06.21
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8:30 LRN Newscast October 6

A wedding attended by about 150 people in Abbeville is drawing more attention to such gatherings being potential super-spreader events for the coronavirus. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

Power is finally coming back on in Grand Isle over a month since Hurricane Ida made landfall. Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng says Entergy has set up a temporary generation plant that is supplying power to some residents. But Sheng says water and sewage are still down.

Senator Bill Cassidy says a spending bill signed by President Biden last week will send 600-million dollars in hurricane recovery money to southwest Louisiana to help rebuild homes and other infrastructure after last year’s hurricanes. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter has said that’s not enough and Cassidy says the chances of getting additional funding are not good…
cut 6 (06) “…shall do so”
Cassidy says the bill approved last week contains one billion dollars for Hurricane Ida recovery.

Lung cancer makes up about 25-percent of all cancer deaths, but Baton Rouge General is one of the first hospitals in the U-S to use innovative robotic technology for lung cancer diagnosis. Pulmonologist Doctor Michael Sanchez says the Monarch Platform robot will lead to safer and quicker diagnoses…
cut 14 (08) “….different lesions”
He says a quicker diagnosis leads to greater potential for curing lung cancer.

10.06.21
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7:30 LRN Newscast October 6

During a weekly conference call with reporters, Senator Bill Cassidy said 600-million in hurricane recovery dollars are headed towards southwest Louisiana as a result of a funding bill signed by the President last week…
cut 4 (11) “…not enough”
Cassidy believes it will be difficult to get another allotment for southwest Louisiana. He says the same spending bill also has one-billion dollars for Hurricane Ida recovery.

State health officials are asking unvaccinated individuals who attended a wedding on September 25th at L’Eglise in Abbeville to quarantine until Saturday as several people who attended the wedding have tested positive for COVID-19. Doctor Tina Stefanski, medical director for Region Four, says 150 people were in attendance and they consider all attendees exposed to COVID-19…
cut 7 (08) “….importantly get tested”

AstraZeneca is hoping their monoclonal antibody treatment will receive emergency use authorization in the effort to help end the pandemic. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

We are 13 months away from next year’s November election and Senator John Kennedy finally has an announced challenger. Luke Mixon is a 42-year-old Democrat from Baton Rouge, who grew up in Avoyelles Parish. Mixon is a political newcomer who is a former Navy pilot and currently flies commercial planes.

10.06.21
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6:45 LRN Sportscast

Heading into the halfway point of the college football season and LSU’s offensive line continues to struggle. The Tigers are only averaging 71 rushing yards a game and has allowed 11 sacks over five games. Center Liam Shanahan believes they are close to executing at a much higher level…
cut 17 (14) “…we can do”
LSU is a three-point underdog heading into Saturday’s game.

If you want to place a bet on Saturday’s LSU game or any other sporting event, you’ll be able to do so legally today starting at 3 PM at Paragon Casino in Marksville. The central Louisiana gaming destination is opening its Las Vegas-style sportsbook called the Draft Room this afternoon, which offers full-service betting.

The Saints have released kicker Aldrick Rosas, who has missed his last three field goals and the team has reportedly signed Cody Parkey, who was a pro bowler as a rookie for the Philadelphia Eagles. But he struggled in Chicago in 2018 and last season in Cleveland he made 19 of 22 field goals. New Orleans is waiting on fellow kicker Will Lutz to get healthy after undergoing core muscle surgery in August.

ULM is getting ready to host Georgia State this Saturday at 7 PM. The Warhawks enter the contest with a 2-and-2 record after getting crushed by 15th ranked Coastal Carolina 59 to 6 last week. ULM coach Terry Bowden says Coastal was the more talented team…
cut 19 (18) “…didn’t match-up”
Bowden says Chandler Rogers will start again at quarterback this Saturday after throwing for just 100 yards against Coastal.

10.06.21
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06:30 LRN Newscast October 6

So how much money is Louisiana getting from the recent funding bill approved by Congress that contains hurricane recovery dollars? Kevin Gallagher has more…
cut 1 (33) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher”

The number of COVID patients in the hospital has fallen below 700 statewide, which is the lowest total since July 18th when the fourth surge was just starting to ramp up. The Louisiana Department of Health reports 82-percent of hospitalized patients are unvaccinated.

Drugmaker AstraZeneca, has asked the Food and Drug Administration to authorize emergency use of what’s been called a first-of-a-kind antibody treatment to prevent COVID-19. The drug would be for individuals with compromised immune systems and need more protection to go along with the vaccine…
cut 12 (10) “…SARS-cov-2”
That’s Assistant Dean for Translational Science at LSU Health New Orleans, Doctor Lucio Miele, says late-stage human trials show that AstraZeneca’s antibody drug reduced the risk of developing COVID symptoms by 77-percent.

A medical center in Louisiana is leading the nation in using innovative robotic technology to diagnose lung cancer. Baton Rouge General pulmonologist Dr. Michael Sanchez says the new Monarch Platform can mean earlier, more accurate detection of lung cancers or pre-cancerous nodules. He says manual bronchoscopes can only be guided so far into the body…:
Cut 13 (11) “…without it.”
Use of Monarch was recently approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration

10.05.21
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4:45 LRN Sportscast October 5

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron started his Monday zoom conference with reporters telling the media that he takes full responsbility for the issues that have led to a three-and-two record this season. The offensive line has underperformed all season long and Orgeron blames injuries during preseason camp and the players adjusting to new offensive line coach Brad Davis, who was hired in June…
cut 18 (23) “….my responsibility”
LSU will face one of the top-run defenses in the country this Saturday when they visit 16th ranked Kentucky. But Wildcats starting nose tackle Marquan McCall will miss the LSU game after suffering an injury last Saturday.

Future first-round pick and LSU All-American cornerback Derek Stingley Junior has a NIL deal with Louisiana-founded Waitr. Stingley will promote the popular food delivery app on his Instagram account. Waitr spokesperson Dean Turcol says Stingley has his own delivery code that customers can use to get free delivery on their next order. and Derek will give out that delivery code on his Instagram account this week…
cut 13 (08) “…promotonal activities”
Turcol says they also have similar deals with LSU first baseman Tre Morgan and Alabama linebacker Christian Harris, who is from Baton Rouge.

Southeastern Louisiana quarterback Cole Kelley has been named offensive player of the week by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. Kelley threw for 391 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for 65 yards in a win over McNeese. Grambling’s Cameron Richardson is the defensive player of the week. Richardson returned a fumble for a touchdown and had an interception in the Tigers win over Alabama A-and-M.

10.05.21
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11:40 LRN Sportscast

LSU Coach Ed Orgeron is feeling some heat after the Tigers lost their second game of the season last Saturday against Auburn. LSU had to burn four timeouts on Saturday when trying to change the play as the play clock was winding down. Orgeron says it’s an issue they will resolve before they play Kentucky this Saturday…
Cut 17 (20) “..too hard.”
Former LSU offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger is still with the program as an analyst. Orgeron says he may have Ensminger in the coaches’ box for Saturday’s game…
cut 30 (10) “…about”

In the latest high school football polls, Many has moved up to number one in Class Two-a. The Tigers have won four in a row, including a 44-31 victory over Red River last Friday. Lafayette Christian Academy has dropped down to number two in Class Two-A After losing to Catholic High.

The Bears remain the number one ranked team in Five-A, followed by Zachary, Brother Martin, Ponchatoula, and Alexandria Senior High. ASH is at West Monroe this Friday. The Rebels are no longer ranked in the top ten after losing to Neville last week.

The Pelicans lost their preseason opener last night as they fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves 117 to 114. Third-year guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Pels with 22 points in 20 minutes. Rookie Trey Murphy had 21 points and was six of ten from three-point land. New Orleans will host Orlando in the Smoothie King Center tomorrow night.

10.05.21
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8:30 LRN Newscast October 5

There are individuals left homeless after Hurricane Ida. Brooke Thorington reports the state has launched a program that will provide these storm victims with mobile homes, trailers, and even shipping containers to live in while repairs are done on their homes…
cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington’

For the first time since early June, someone won the Powerball Jackpot which was just shy of 700-million dollars last night. The winning ticket was sold in California.

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center plans to break ground early next year on a 100-million dollar cancer center. OLOL President Scott Wester says the 80-thousand square foot facility will include literally every aspect of cancer research, treatment, and care…
cut 11 (13) “…outpatient pharmacy”
Wester says they plan on treating cancer patients from around the state and the Gulf South.

An LSU Mechanical Engineering Professor has received a 433-thousand dollar grant to study how they can freeze organs set aside for a transplant longer. Currently, doctors only have four hours to execute a transplant and Ram Devireddy says the trick is finding just the right amount of cooling time that keeps the tissue viable….
cut 14 (08) “…be happy”

10.05.21
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7:30 LRN Newscast October 5

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has launched a program to provide housing to Hurricane Ida victims left homeless as a result of the storm. GOHSEP Deputy Director Casey Tingle says with FEMA’s assistance they hope to have trailers, mobile homes, and even shipping containers installed as soon as this weekend that can provide temporary housing
Cut 7 (06) “…implement this.”
Hurricane victims looking to register should go to Ida-sheltering-la-dot-com.

Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge announces plans to build an 80-thousand square foot, 100-million dollar cancer center. Governor John Bel Edwards says once the state of the art center is constructed, it will eliminate the need for cancer patients to seek treatment out of state…
cut 12 (10) “…our state”

The U-S House still has yet to vote on a one-point-two trillion-dollar infrastructure bill and also a three-point-five trillion-dollar social spending bill. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter says both measures are important to Louisiana…
cut 5 (12) “…convoluted with definitions”
The three-point-five trillion-dollar spending bill would provide free community college and universal pre-K.

When you are waiting on something as important as a liver or kidney for a transplant, time is of the essence. Right now, you have to receive that organ within four hours for it to remain viable. But LSU Mechanical Engineer Professor Ram Devireddy (Dev-ah-ready) says they are researching ways to freeze an organ so it can remain viable longer
Cut 13 (06) “…just said.”
LSU has received a $433-thousand grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the best method to preserve an organ.

10.05.21
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6:45 LRN Sportscast October 5

After rushing for just 33 yards in the loss to Auburn, LSU is averaging just 71 yards rushing yards a game, which ranks 128th out of 130 FBS teams. Tigers coach Ed Orgeron says part of the problem is that they are not committed to running the football…
cut 16 (20) “…this week”
The Tigers opponent this Saturday, 16th ranked Kentucky is only allowing 104 rushing yards a game, which ranks fourth in the SEC and 24th in the nation. But their starting nose tackle Marquan McCall will not play Saturday because of an injury. Kick-off on Saturday is at 6:30.

The Saints will take on the Washington Football team this Sunday. Both teams are two and two on the season. New Orleans has several players on injured reserve who are eligible to return like receiver Tre’Quan Smith, cornerback Ken Crawley and kicker Will Lutz. But there’s no word on when they’ll return.

Nicholls is also 2-and-2 and they are now ranked in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 after beating Houston Baptist 48-17 on Saturday. It was win number 40 for head coach Tim Rebowe, which is a new school record. The Colonels will host Southeastern Louisiana this Saturday. The Lions are ranked 14th in the FCS Coaches poll.

Stats Perform FCS has named Grambling as its national team of the week. The Tigers rallied from a 14-0 deficit to beat Alabama A-and-M 37-28. Freshman Noah Bodden threw three touchdown passes and the defense forced five turnovers.

The Pelicans lost their preseason opener last night, falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves 117 to 114. Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 22 points.